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Ants

The first step in carpenter ant control is a thorough inspection in and around the structure. You'll want us to inspect all areas that are conducive to carpenter ants from the ground level to the roof peak. Carpenter ants are most active at night. Sometimes an evening inspection is necessary to locate a difficult carpenter ant problem. The key to eliminating carpenter ants is locating the colony. This is often difficult as the carpenter ants usually locate their nest inside wall or ceiling voids where it is hard to get at.

Also where carpenter ants trail into a building is not always where the main colony is located. Carpenter ants sometimes form satellite colonies where they enter and exit a structure. Satellite colonies are in between the main colony and food locations or swarming locations. The ants may enter at a location and then climb through walls and rafters to where the nest is really located. After the nest or entrance ways have been determined the wall or ceiling void may be drilled and treated to eliminate the entire colony.

ARGENTINE ANT

Size: Workers of this species are about 1/8-inch in length.
Color: Varies from dark brown to black and the body is often shiny in appearance.
The colonies of Argentine ants can grow quite large containing tens of thousands of workers and numerous queens. Each colony will be divided into subcolonies located in various suitable harborages connected by established trunk trails. These subcolonies will number from a few hundred to thousands of individuals.

Argentine ants are the most common invaders of homes in Southern California.

This ant is one of the most difficult ants to control. The colony may have hundreds of queens, and each colony will be divided into a number of subcolonies. Since members of two separate colonies are not aggressive toward each other, colonies will often combine with one another. This creates huge super-colonies that may extend over several properties. Their primary food source during the warm months is the sweet honeydew produced by aphids and mealybugs. The presence of fruit trees, roses, and other plants that attract aphids often contribute to Argentine ant infestations.

Argentine ants reside in shallow nests in the soil beneath a stone, board, or any other item that provides protection. Small, medium, or large subcolonies will locate themselves: in piles of lumber, bricks, or debris; in landscape mulch; behind brick and stone veneer; within and under insulation; and in wall voids or any other suitable void.

Regular treatments will keep control of ants entering the structure. Without such efforts, however, the numbers of ants seen inside can rise into the thousands. The homeowner can help avoid these ants with the following steps:

Make sure there are no plumbing leaks or other sources of moisture.

Eliminate piles of lumber, bricks or debris from the property.

Keep landscape mulch to a minimum of 2 inches thick.

Ensure that the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the home's foundation.

Seal up as many cracks on the outside as possible.

Consider re-landscaping to avoid using plants that are prone to aphid attacks. At the very least, treat such plants regularly to control aphids.